Bylaw on 'becak' not to be reviewed

Bylaw on 'becak' not to be reviewed

JAKARTA (JP): The City Council has decided not to review Bylaw
No. 11/1988 on public order which banned becak (three-wheeled
pedicabs) from operating on the city's streets, saying that it
would urge the administration to immediately provide them with
new jobs.

"The door is already closed for becak to operate here in the
city. The bylaw which banned the pedicabs is still valid,"
Council Speaker Edy Waluyo told reporters after a meeting with
Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea at City
Hall on Tuesday.

Edy said the council would further discuss how to provide the
pedicab drivers with new jobs, to be arranged by the city
administration.

Commenting on the program to change the vocation of the
pedicab drivers, Jacob said his ministry would help the city
administration to find jobs for the drivers.

"If they want to join transmigration programs or work
overseas, we will do our best to help them," he said.

Governor Sutiyoso said on Tuesday the new jobs would only be
offered to drivers who were Jakarta residents.

"For non-Jakarta residents, we will help them return to their
respective hometowns," Sutiyoso said after receiving the
minister.

According to City Hall spokesman Muhayat, only five percent of
about 6,000 pedicab drivers operating in the city are Jakarta
residents.

"They would most likely be given loans for working capital to
set up small stalls in traditional markets here," he said without
stating the amount of the loan.

Edy further said the council also suggested that the
administration conduct public order operations in a more humane
manner against pedicab drivers.

"The authorities should avoid a violent approach or actions
that could provoke the people targeted in the operation to
respond violently," he said.

Jacob agreed, saying that he also urged the administration to
avoid violence during public order operations.

"They should avoid violence," Jacob told reporters.

Jacob, who visited City Hall to get inputs on becak problems,
is scheduled to hold a meeting with the Urban Poor Consortium
(UPC) on Wednesday.

UPC, a non-governmental organization that promotes the rights
of less fortunate citizens, is known for its role in coordinating
thousands of becak drivers here. It had demanded that the bylaw
be revoked and the pedicabs be allowed to operate in certain
residential areas here.

The city administration has accused UPC of being behind the
clash between the city's public order officers and the pedicab
drivers in Roxy, Central Jakarta, last month, which claimed one
officer's life. UPC has denied the accusation.

Jacob, who is also an executive of the Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle (PDI-Perjuangan), urged the city administration
to increase the amount of compensation of Rp 250,000 (US$28) each
for drivers who hand over their pedicabs to the authorities.

"The amount of compensation is too small," he said, without
mentioning what he considered to be an appropriate amount.

PDI Perjuangan's faction at the council suggested on Monday
that the administration raise the amount of compensation to Rp
400,000 for each pedicab surrendered.

Meanwhile, Mayor of Central Jakarta said on Tuesday that the
central Jakarta mayoralty offered 2,077 job vacancies for the
pedicab drivers who are holding a Greater Jakarta identification
card and wish to change profession.

The variety of positions offered by the mayoralty includes
bajaj drivers and household helpers. As for those who are
interested to begin entrepreneurship will be located at the Gardu
Asem traditional market in Kemayoran, North Jakarta.

"The number of vacancy will suffice as there is about 1,400
pedicab drivers in Central Jakarta," according to the Mayor of
central Jakarta Hosea Petra Lumbun, as quoted by the
beritajakarta.com website.

Pedicab drivers who are interested may apply directly to each
city administration without a third party. (jun/06)